09 March 2024 , 19:05
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Aaron Ramsdale had a moment to forget on his return to the Arsenal side, gifting Brentford an equaliser in their crucial Premier League encounter on Saturday.
Ramsdale, 25, has endured a frustrating season after spending the majority of it as second choice to David Raya. However, with the Spaniard ineligible to face his parent club - due to only being on loan - Ramsdale was handed a rare start by Arteta against the Bees.
Declan Rice gave the Gunners the lead with a powerful header and they were in complete control up until Ramsdale dropped a clanger just before half-time. After receiving a pass from Gabriel, Ramsdale delayed to clear his lines, allowing Yoane Wissa to slide in and block the ball, which bounced into the net.
The Arsenal players were quick to huddle around Ramsdale and give the out-of-favour shot-stopper some confidence after making the costly mistake.
Arsenal fans were quick to criticise the returning goalkeeper on social media, as they claimed it vindicated Mikel Arteta's decision to use Raya as first choice since his arrival from Brentford. One even suggested that Arteta should name Karl Hein on the bench for the rest of the season...
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One said: "They called Mikel Arteta a madman when he benched Aaron Ramsdale and started Raya in the previous games. See now." Another added: "Unfortunately that's 1 of the reasons Ramsdale has been on the bench, always has a mistake in him, such a shame because he can be brilliant just inconsistent & that was a bad decision."
A third continued: "Team mentality is much better than what I’d be like in that dressing room with Ramsdale let me tell you now, all the hard work undone by something so beyond unnecessary.
A fourth said: "That mistake by Ramsdale is unacceptable." A fifth admitted: "If we don’t win today, just put Hein on the bench. You can’t make these sort of mistakes at this level. He [Ramsdale] is out of his depth."
Arsenal 'keeper Aaron Ramsdale gifted Brentford a goal (Sky Sports)
Aaron Ramsdale had a moment to forget (Sky Sports)An angry sixth Arsenal fan said: "That's surely it for Ramsdale now? I thought Raya was bad for taking extra steps and cutting it fine at the back, but that was just something else."
A seventh bemoaned: "I will say it still Ramsdale cost us the league last season. Too many mistakes Raya has always been my first choice. I hope the blind fans can see now."
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp had sympathy for Ramsdale, who has started just six Premier League matches so far this season.
"The ball comes back to him and he just shuffles his feet, the touch is actually really good because it sets himself up for the next pass but then he doesn’t see Wissa coming onto him. I’ve got to be honest, I’m devastated for him," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"How he must feel right now, he couldn’t tell us, because when you’re in that position as a player, you know that you’re the one that’s let the team down in a way by being at fault for that goal.
"It’ll take a real character now to come out of that dressing room at halftime and you see his teammates coming out to him at halftime, but the last thing you want after that is a cuddle from them."
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